Undergarment.



W.- B. ROOD.

UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 30, 1915.

- Patented July 11, 1916.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.x

l NVE VI. j/aew I? AM W. B. ROOD. UNDERGARMENT.-

APPLICATION man SEPT, 30. 1915.

.latented Jill 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

portion by the seam b.

tral part at the middle of the back of the garment, tapering thence both ways toward the sides of the garment, and is also preferably two-ply or of double thickness as shown 13, 13 of'Fig. 2, but it is not necessary that both layers of the elastic fabric shall extend tlie'entire distance from side to side of :the back of the garment. Other forms are hereinafter referred to. By having the insert of double thickness, the power of thefabric to return to its original condition'is materially increased.

' The two thicknesses of knitgoods which form the elastic insert 13 are secured to the shirt and drawers portion of the garment by the seams a and Z2. When the garment is made of tubular knit fabric, as is the case in Fig. 1, I make a horizontal slit at the waist line as shown at 31 in Fig. 5, and secure the elastic insert 13 therein without cut ting-away any body of the garment is constructed. This gives additional fullness at the seat of the garment and produces a more comfortable, durable andbetter fitting garment.

Between the two layers 13, 13 of the elastic insert and about centrally thereof I place a piece of tape 15 or other strong inelastic fabric and secure the upper end to the shirt portion of the garment by the seam a and the lower end to the drawers For convenience I call this member 15 a concealed stay,.and its length is slightly less thanthc vertical width of the elastic insert 113 when it is stretched to a'distance slightly less than when the tical strain,

increased. It

that at which permanent elongation or distortion of the fabric seems to begin. 'The position of the parts, when the elastic material 13 is not under tension, is clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2. At this time the tape is loose or slack and lies in superposed or adjoining folds. The position ofthe parts,

garment is subjected to heavy veris shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be seen that th'e elastic insert 13 permits the of the back to a considerable extent and the concealed stay 15 takes ,the strain just befor'ethe point at which permanent elongation is produced is reached; The sta also serves to prevent any rupture of the abric.

The garment thus constructed may be made exceedingly flexible and elastic but will maintain its shape much better than similar garments as heretofore constructed. The durability of the garment isalso much will be also seen-that the concealed stay is not exposed to view and is protected so that it cannot catch on anything nor can the wearer catch his fingers in it in putting on or taking off the garment. The"concealed stay is ordinarily made of cotton tape which is so thin and of the material of which the garment to be stretched lengthwise elastic insert at itsmiddlc ordinary wearer, unless something calls his attention particularly to it.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown my invention in slightly modified form. In this form the outer layer of fabric'is designated 16, the inner layer 17 and the concealed stay 18. It will be seen that the inner layer 17 of fabric forming in part the elastic insert is relatively short, but is long enough to iii-- crease materially the power of the insert to return it to its original position and protool; and conceal the stay 18.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is still another form of my invention. In this form the elastic insert at the waist is formed by two overlapping members 21 and 22, said members bcing of substantially the same size and shape and having their ends overlapping at the middle of the back. The concealed stay 2.- is placed between the overlapping ends of the two portions 21 and 22.

In all of the forms of the invention the concealed stay takes the strain just before the point is reached at which the elastic insert will be likely to receive a permanent elongation.

What I claim is:

1. A union undergarment having its shirt and drawers portions made of relatively inelastic-material when stretched lengthwise of the back, an elastic insert at the back of .tlie garment at the waist, and a norn'iallv elastic material when stretched lengthwise of the back, an elastic two-ply i is'ort at the back of the garment at the waist said insert being widest at its central portion at vthe back of the garment and tapering thence toward'thc sides of the garment, and a normally slack, non-clastic stay spanning said portion and having its ends secured rcspectivcly to the shirt and drawers portions of the garment.

3. A union undergarment having its shirt and drawers portions made of relatively inelastic material when stretched lengthwise of the back, an elastic insert at the back of the garment at the waist, said elastic insert being'of double thickness at the small of the back, and a concealed, normally slack, non-clastic stay between the two thicknesses of said elastic insert and having its ends secured respectively to the shirt and drawers portions of the garment.

4. A union undergarment having its shirt and drawers portions made of a single piece cured respectively to the shirt and drawers It a; t of relatively inelastic material when portions of the garment. stretched lengthwise of the back, an elastic In testimony whereofl aflIlX my signature, two-ply insert at the back of the garment at in presence of twowitnesses.

5 the waist said insert being widest at its eentral part: tapering thence toward the sides?" WHLIAM 300D Qfi the garment, and. a normally slzick n0n-. Witnesses:

elastic stay disposed between the two plies JAMES E. CLARK,

of said elastic insert and having its ends ae- J. H. SCHOONMAKER; 

